My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 161: Predator II

Palisa

The nasty floorboards groaned under my weight as I moved deeper into the messy space. My fingers trailed over surfaces thick with dust, disturbing it into small clouds that caught in the dim light filtering through the broken roof.

Old clothes lay in a heap against one wall. I picked through them methodically, fabric disintegrating in places where moths and time had done their work.

How exactly was I going to sift through this mess to even properly find that darn scent of hers?!

I stood still, waiting for the dust to settle while sifting through my senses and finetuning it to pick what I wanted.

Beneath the dust, mildew and months of neglect, I found it.

It was faint, and almost imperceptible. But it was there.

That Omega scent.

A smile curved my lips.

The young Alpha was right that she had changed. The scent from that hall was vastly different from what I was smelling here. Her scent had shifted into something else entirely.

But it wasn’t fully gone.

Lycans were born Lycans, not made. If she had been an Omega before her awakening, a trace of that would always remain, woven into her very being like a thread that could never be completely pulled free.

Most wolves would never sense it.

But I was not most wolves.

And they sure wouldn’t have noticed the slight difference in how this scent varied from other normal Omegas.

This brat had been different from the moment she was born.

I had spent centuries studying Lycans. Dissecting their secrets. Learning their truths.

I shifted and more dust rose in my wake as I turned to face the doorway where Damon and several other wolves waited.

"Do you remember her scent and presence from the trial?" I asked.

The wolves nodded, some more readily than others.

Damon answered. "Yes..."

"Good." I stepped closer, the floorboards creaking beneath each footfall. "You will hunt her down. Search every neutral zone you can find, and be discreet about it. I want her alive, but I do not care how broken she is when you deliver her. If you must damage her severely to bring her with you, do it."

A sliver of discomfort flashed through the foolish Alpha’s eyes and as if to catch himself, he immediately straightened and nodded, reluctant eagerness lighting his face.

This one was as confused as dying rat not knowing if it should eat or just lay down to let the life drain out of it.

"She will avoid packs and territories," I continued, my gaze sweeping over each wolf in turn. "The other Supreme Alphas are most likely searching for her as well. She should know this, and without a doubt she might likely have some support from that white haired brat."

"What—what if he is hiding her?" the young Alpha asked, hesitant.

"He wouldn’t. She will stick to neutral zones where she believes she can remain hidden."

The wind outside picked up, whistling through the gaps in the walls with a low, mournful sound.

I finally stepped outside.

Kael would never keep her in his territory. I did not know what sort of relationship he had with the girl, but from that interaction with Rowan during our meeting, the fool was likely bedding her.

I don’t know why I was just considering it now.

Regardless...

It still was possible he would have kept her hidden in his territory, but my senses were telling me otherwise.

"Still, he most likely has a plan for her."

That boy had been born in the midst of a war and had lived through one before he even became a teenager. He was smart, savvy, and while not as power hungry as his father was, he upholds most of the stubborn mule’s values.

He likely wouldn’t have sent her out there without some sort of plan.

"It has only been over a month. She won’t have travelled too far yet." I grimaced, crossing my arms across my chest. "She’s still likely within neutral range of Fresna and another nation’s borders. Either Orpal or ours. Still close enough for you to find her."

That would be it.

I would give these ones more details they would need for the search.

They especially did not need to know I would also be searching for her on my own.

If they found her first, excellent.

If not, I would handle it myself.

Either way, that little Lycan would be mine.

"You were her mate," I addressed Damon, watching his reaction carefully.

He stiffened. "I—yes. Before I—"

"Before you rejected her." I stepped closer, enjoying the way he flinched. "Tell me. Did you ever sense anything unusual about her? Anything that felt... different?"

His brow furrowed. "She—she was weak. Pathetic. There was nothing I—"

"Think harder." My voice dropped lower, stern. "The bond would have told you something. Some instinct you must have not paid attention to."

He was quiet for a long moment, his eyes distant.

My distaste grew.

This utter fool.

His forehead beaded with sweat and he squeezed his eyes shut, lowering his head. "Forgive me, Lady Palisa. I really... there was nothing," he finished with a low whisper.

I straightened, rolling my eyes.

I should not have expected much from this one.

"If you hadn’t been too busy with the panties of that other one, you wouldn’t have been blind to what your mate was."

His face darkened with shame.

Pathetic creature.

I had something this useful in my territory and I had lost her because of this fool.

Hmm... still, I would not have known about her existence had he never rejected her.

Still...

I just might have.

When I get back to the Capital from hunting the brat, I will organise a sweep of my territory to find more prospects.

And when I finally had her in my grasp, she would suffer for the humiliation she put me through. I would have my way with her, mentally strip her bare until she was just an empty vessel of herself. Only then will she be fit for the weapon she is.

I could have her sire more pups until she pumped enough Lycans.

Those nasty eyes that dared to look at me with such defiance would be a pleasure to strip.

My smile widened.

When I am done with her, she would wish she had never been born.